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Curated by Artistic Director Tamara Rojo, season features world premiere commissions from Bobbi Jene Smith & Or Schraiber and William Forsythe, Balanchine’s Jewels, exquisite story ballets, and more

Company will embark on landmark international tour in Summer 2026, to include Jacob’s Pillow and the European premiere of Mere Mortals at Edinburgh International Festival and Sadler’s Wells

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA) April 15, 2026—San Francisco Ballet (SF Ballet) today revealed its 2026–2027 Season. Curated by Artistic Director Tamara Rojo, the season explores ballet’s rich and wide-ranging legacy while pointing to its continued evolution, spearheaded by the art form’s most adventurous visionaries. SF Ballet’s new season includes a mixed-bill reimagining the spirit of the Ballets Russes for today that includes a world premiere commission from Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber, presented alongside Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Faun and Yuri Possokhov’s Violin Concerto; a world premiere commission from William Forsythe for the 2027 Opening Night Gala; an evening-length program of all three works in George Balanchine’s Jewels, performed by the Company in its entirety for the first time in 17 years; a showcase of Europe’s leading contemporary choreographers, including Hans van Manen, Christopher Wheeldon, and Akram Khan; sumptuous story ballets including The Sleeping Beauty and A Midsummer Night’s Dream; and more.

SF Ballet’s reach extends beyond San Francisco as the company embarks on a landmark tour this summer, returning to Jacob’s Pillow for their annual Festival for the first time 70 years after the company’s East Coast debut, and bringing Mere Mortals overseas, presenting its European premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival and anchoring Sadler’s Wells’ autumn season.

SF Ballet’s 2026–27 Season will include:

• An annual tradition: The beloved family holiday favorite Nutcracker, set in San Francisco and honoring the company’s legacy as the first to present a full-length production;
• Helgi Tomasson’s The Sleeping Beauty after Marius Petipa, a ballet for all ages that preserves the grandeur of the 19th century classic—the pinnacle of the classical ballet canon;
• Titans of Choreography, a mixed bill showcasing the stylistic diversity of three major contemporary European choreographers: the precision of Hans van Manen’s Grosse Fuge, the lyricism of Christopher Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour, and the visceral storytelling of Akram Khan’s Dust;
• George Balanchine’s Jewels, the beloved exploration of ballet’s cultural lineage across France (Emeralds), the United States (Rubies), and Imperial Russia (Diamonds), returning to the War Memorial Opera House in full for the first time since 2009;
• Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a journey through William Shakespeare’s enchanted forest with costume and set designs by French designer Christian Lacroix;
• Divine Creatures, a mixed bill paying homage to Sergei Diaghilev’s revolutionary Ballets Russes, featuring a Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber world premiere (with music by Andy Akiho), the SF Ballet debut of Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Faun which interprets Nijinsky and Debussy’s mythic visions through a modern lens, and Yuri Possokhov’s technically brilliant Violin Concerto; and
• The return of Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, the high-drama story ballet centered on the struggles of a tragic heroine and largely considered one of the choreographer’s best.

“SF Ballet’s 2026–27 season brings together a remarkable constellation of legendary artists—visionaries who have shaped the trajectory of ballet and those who continue to define it today,” said Tamara Rojo, Artistic Director of SF Ballet. “I’m especially thrilled to bring Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber, a creative partnership that is redefining what contemporary choreography can be, to San Francisco. Rooted in risk and reinvention, and with a wide range of stories and emotions captured on stage, this season will serve as a powerful reminder that ballet is ever-evolving—and has never been more vital.”

Single tickets for the 2026–27 Season will go on sale this fall. Packages are on sale in July.

Touring
In August 2026, SF Ballet joins the 94th season of Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, returning to the Berkshires exactly 70 years after the company’s East Coast debut in 1956, the last time the company performed at the festival. An expansive two-stage engagement will feature a mixed program comprised of works by choreographers including William Forsythe, Hans van Manen, and Tamara Rojo.

Later in August, SF Ballet will present the European premiere of Mere Mortals as the Edinburgh International Festival’s (EIF) flagship dance performance, returning for the first time in 20 years alongside other handpicked programs of world-leading opera, music, and theater. Rojo’s inaugural commission for the Company and SF Ballet’s first full-length commission from a female choreographer (Aszure Barton), the EIF engagement of Mere Mortals will feature electronic music producer, DJ, and composer Floating Points performing his original score live alongside the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Mere Mortals will then travel to Sadler’s Wells in London as the anchor of the venue’s autumn season, with a four-evening engagement featuring Floating Points performing alongside the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

Additional touring engagements in 2026 will be announced on a later date.

SF Ballet’s 2026–27 Season Materials
2026–2027 Season Calendar
2026–2027 Season Credits
2026–2027 Season Photos (available with registered account)

Nutcracker
December 4–27, 2026
On Christmas Eve 1944, SF Ballet made history with the American premiere of Nutcracker, launching a national holiday tradition that continues to enchant audiences today. Set in 1915 San Francisco during the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, Helgi Tomasson’s Nutcracker takes place in a city celebrating a new age of technology and international collaboration, much like the San Francisco of today.

SF Ballet will host its fifth annual Sensory Friendly Performance of Nutcracker on Sunday, December 27 at 11am, in partnership with Autism Society SF Bay Area, creating a welcoming space where neurodiverse audiences of all ages and abilities can experience the wonder of Nutcracker in a relaxed setting.

2027 Opening Night Gala
January 14, 2027
SF Ballet will host its 94th Season Opening Night Gala on January 14, 2027, featuring a world premiere commission from William Forsythe. Additional details to be announced later.

The Sleeping Beauty
January 29–February 7, 2027
The Sleeping Beauty is the pinnacle of the classical ballet canon. Choreographed by Helgi Tomasson after Marius Petipa and set to Tchaikovsky’s impressive score, this production honors the grandeur of the 19th-century classic while bringing a fresh vitality showcasing regal pageantry, virtuosic technique, and enduring romance. It is a fairy tale that is both enchanting and captivating for audiences of all ages–elegant, timeless, and a celebration of classical ballet at its finest.

Titans of Choreography
February 16–21, 2027
This mixed bill of three major, brilliant European choreographers celebrates the range, nuance, and stylistic diversity of contemporary ballet. Hans van Manen’s Grosse Fuge returns, showcasing his hallmark precision and sculptural clarity. Christopher Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour, complete with costumes by Zac Posen, dazzles with sweeping lyricism and modern elegance. Akram Khan’s Dust brings visceral intensity and dramatic storytelling, pushing the boundaries of movement and emotion. This curation presents contemporary mastery with three distinct points of view, offering audiences a rare glimpse into the nuance and range of these visionary voices.

Jewels
February 27–March 7, 2027
George Balanchine’s Jewels is a singular masterpiece: an abstract triptych that evokes the brilliance of precious gems inspired by the jeweler Van Cleef and Arpels. Emeralds shimmers with the elegance and refinement of 19th-century French Romantic ballet, a reflection of Balanchine’s vision of France’s grace and charm. Rubies sparkles with wit, energy, and a touch of New York City jazz, epitomizing the creative partnership between Stravinsky and Balanchine with a distinctly American flair. Diamonds exudes the grandeur and order of Imperial Russia, preserving the essence of the classical heritage Balanchine absorbed as a young man at the Mariinsky Theater. Together, these three luminous ballets form a dazzling tribute to ballet’s past, present, and enduring splendor.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
March 19–27, 2027
Set to Felix Mendelssohn’s luminous score, George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream conjures a world where mischievous fairies, bewitched lovers, and bumbling mortals collide in a swirl of magic and mayhem. Balanchine’s sparkling choreography brings every moment to life. Exquisitely crafted costumes and dreamlike sets by iconic French designer Christian Lacroix — created for the Paris Opera Ballet — drape every scene in shimmering splendor. Joyful, radiant, and utterly transporting, this production is pure enchantment for dreamers of all ages.

Divine Creatures
April 8–14, 2027
This program traces the enduring influence of ballet impresario Sergei Diaghilev through works that reimagine the spirit of the Ballets Russes for today. Dubbed “two ‘it’ choreographers” by the New York Times, witness a world premiere from Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber, featuring music by Andy Akiho, a trailblazing Pulitzer Prize finalist and seven-time Grammy-nominated composer. Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Faun refracts myth through a modern lens, echoing Nijinsky’s revolutionary sensuality. Yuri Possokhov’s Next@90 Festival hit Violin Concerto returns with its technical brilliance and Stravinsky’s virtuosic score. Distinct in style yet united by collaboration across disciplines, these three works celebrate risk, reinvention, innovation, and artistic virtuosity—hallmarks of Diaghilev’s legacy and the adventurous heart of this season.

Manon
April 23–May 2, 2027
Considered one of his most notable and widely celebrated, Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon returns to critical and audience acclaim. Showcasing his expertise of narrative choreography and acute insight into human psychology, this is MacMillan at his best. The story of Manon’s struggle to escape poverty makes it one of the most dramatic, sensual and devastating ballets, showcasing the juxtaposition between her impoverished origins and the lavish world she longs to inhabit—paying the ultimate price for true love and freedom.

SF Ballet School Spring Festival
May 7–8, 2027
San Francisco Ballet School invites audiences to the historic War Memorial Opera House, spotlighting the next generation of elite dance talent. Proceeds from this annual showcase directly benefit SF Ballet School’s scholarship and financial aid programs, ensuring that rising dancers have the opportunity to pursue their craft at the highest level. Additional details to come.

About San Francisco Ballet
San Francisco Ballet, led by Artistic Director Tamara Rojo, is a world-leading ballet company and a trailblazing commissioner, collaborator, and presenter in dance. With a deep commitment to new and contemporary works and the classical repertoire, SF Ballet is a catalyst for the future of ballet, investing in commissions and acquisitions; presenting established and emerging choreographers with a breadth of viewpoints; uplifting dancers, artists, and creatives across disciplines; and cultivating the next generation of the world’s top dancers in its School.

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